Effective Discrimination of Meat Tenderness Using Dual Attribute Time Intensity

It was hypothesized that feeding mesquite pods to male Rambouillet lambs would have no negative effects on carcass characteristics, meat chemical composition and fatty acid composition of Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL). Twenty-one male lambs (2.5 months old and 21 ± 1.44 kg bodyweight) were randomly assigned to one of three experimental diets, two of which replaced maize grain and stover with mesquite pods ( Prosopis laevigata ) (PL): 0 g PL/kg feed (PL0), 250 g PL/kg feed (PL250) and 500 g PL/kg feed (dry matter basis). The feeding trial lasted 72 days. Carcass traits, chemical composition, fatty acid profile, and sensory characteristics of meat were measured. Carcass linear dimensions, non-carcass components, digestive tract and offal, compression value, and chemical composition of meat were similar in all treatments. Dietary inclusion of PL decreased carcass shrinkage loss. Lambs fed PL500 had better muscle conformation and degree of fat. Meat produced by PL-fed lambs was well accepted by panellists who judged meat appearance, colour, flavour, juiciness, toughness, and stringiness. In lambs fed PL0, the LTL muscle was lighter and yellower than that of animals fed PL250 and PL500 diets. Fatty acid composition was altered. The PL0 diet resulted in lower percentages of total trans fatty acids (TFA) and saturated fatty acids (SFA) and higher percentages of most unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) n-6 compared with PL250 and PL500 diets. Mesquite diets of up to 500 g/kg dry matter (DM) for growing lambs improved carcass quality and nutritional parameters of the meat. Keywords : Mesquite, muscle conformation, rumen content

Dual-attribute time-intensity sensory evaluation: A new method for temporal measurement of sensory perceptions

A Pilot Plant Study of the Effect of Four Cooking Methods on Acceptability and Yields of Prebrowned Battered and Breaded Broiler Parts

Lung cancer remains a significant cause of mortality, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) representing most cases. Currently, clinical data based models fall short in predicting survival while more advanced deep learning based image models require vast amounts of data and are often limited to predictions based on single time points. This study uses dual time point CT scans and features derived from a foundation model to predict survival. A dataset containing 102 NSCLC patients treated with radiation therapy was used, with each patient having both pre-treatment and post-treatment CT scans. A foundation model applied to the scans generated high-dimensional feature vectors and these vectors were then further summarized. Statistical analyses, including random forest and gradient boosted survival models, were then used to predict survival. The results demonstrated that temporal changes in feature vectors, specifically the Euclidean distance and element-wise subtracted feature vectors, can offer improved prediction of survival over single-time point features and clinical data.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-26365-7.

Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of male chickens were evaluated using eight-week-old 360 cockerels from three exotic (Koekoek, Kuroiler and Sasso-R) and one Ethiopian indigenous (Horro) genotypes. Cockerels in each breed (90) were randomly allocated into three replications of 30 birds each and housed in deep litter pens for the experiment that lasted for 8 to 16 weeks. The experiment was arranged in a Completely Randomized Design. Seven birds per breed were slaughtered at the end to determine carcass yield, chemical composition and quality attributes of meat. The Kuroiler breed has higher body weight, body weight change (1621.8 g), average daily gain (28.9 g/day), daily feed consumption (127.4 g/day) and better feed conversion ratio (4.40) than other breeds. The Kuroiler breed has heavier slaughter weight (2716.3 g), dressed carcass weight (2201.0 g), eviscerated carcass weight (1905.1 g), breast weight (537.7 g), thigh weight (303.1 g) and drumstick weight (274.8 g) than other breeds. Total edible offal was higher for Kuroiler (324.2 g) and Sasso-R (306.1 g), intermediate in Koekoek (204.4 g) and low in Horro (152.4 g) breed. The relative proportion of breast and drumstick (% slaughter weight) were lower in Koekoek and Sasso-R (17.3 and 8.9) breeds, respectively. Abdominal fat weight (13.7 g and 1.02%) was lowest in Horro. Sasso-R showed higher percent edible offal weight (13.4%) than Horro breed (11.4%). The DM content in breast and thigh meat was higher for Horro breed than the rest. The CP content in the breast and thigh meat was lower for the Kuroiler and Koekoek breeds, respectively. Higher EE in the thigh meat was recorded for Sasso-R (8.9%), whereas, EE content in the breast meat was similar (3.4% - 3.7%) among the breeds. Flavor, tenderness, juiciness and general acceptability of breast and thigh meat were not affected by breed. The highest net return was observed in the Kuroiler breed. Based on the results obtained, it is suggested that the Kuroiler breed can be used for cockerel meat production in Ethiopia where intensive broiler production is not well developed.

Spatial and temporal changes in the pH, electrical conductivity (EC), TDS, TSS, BOD, COD and concentration of toxic metals viz. cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were assessed in the waste water contaminated with untreated or inadequately pretreated industrial effluents from pharmaceutical industries located in Selaqui area and sugar industry and distillery located in Doiwala area of Dehradun. Four effluent samples A, B, C, D collected from manufacturing and processing industries located in the study area and two ground water samples E1 & E2 contiguous to Selaqui industrial hub and Doiwala industrial stretch respectively, were analyzed using standard physico-chemical methods. In order to delimit the temporal changes in parameters, samples were collected in three batches at three consecutive seasons of a year. Analyses at STP condition revealed that pH values of ground water samples remained fairly unchanged at 7.01 + 0.14 & 6.98 + 0.04 for E1 & E2 respectively, for two regional variations and three seasonal variations. EC (mmho/cm) varied non-uniformly with highest value of 0.479 observed for sample A in batch 1 whereas lowest value of 0.122 recorded for sample D in batch 3. TDS in effluents of distillery and sugar industry were found to be 3-6 folds higher than the same for effluents from pharmaceutical industries across all seasons. BOD and COD values for the effluents of distillery and sugar industries were recorded unexpectedly higher than corresponding values in effluents from pharmaceutical industries in all the three batches. TSS was very high in the range of 1500 to 4500 mg/l in all the effluent samples except the ground water samples. Highest concentration of heavy metal detected was iron with concentration of 10.80 mg/l. Cr, Pb, Cd and Ni were found to be above the permissible limit recommended by WHO standards. A plausible analysis is made to interpret the wide range variation of the parameters in the light of spatial and temporal change aspects and necessary pretreatment measures to bring down the magnitude of contamination within consent level are suggested.

Iberian (IB, n = 60) and crossbred Large White × Landrace (F1, n = 58) pigs were slaughtered at 160 kg, after finishing under intensive conditions or on pasture and acorns. The study was carried out as a factorial arrangement of treatments, and physicochemical properties and sensory attributes of meat were assessed in Longissimus thoracis samples. Physical characteristics included the assessment of drip loss, cooking loss, shear force, and color coordinates in meat samples processed at 2 and 9 d postmortem. The interactions of genetic group and finishing system were significant (P < 0.05) for cooking loss in meat aged for 9 d and for sensorial tenderness and global acceptability of meat, but none of the other physicochemical, color coordinates, and sensory variables analyzed showed a significant interaction. Genetic group was the main factor influencing the variables analyzed, with a major (P < 0.01) influence on all meat physicochemical characteristics and sensory attributes. Relative to F1 pigs, the IB produced meat with higher intramuscular fat content and marbling score, more appealing color coordinates, lower shear force, and higher sensorial tenderness. The finishing systems affected (P < 0.05) most physical characteristics, but not chemical composition of meat and their impact on sensory properties was small. The tenderness, juiciness, and global acceptability of meat were much higher in IB pigs, and flavor was also more desirable, but the difference was smaller. The differences in sensory properties between meats originating from the two genetic groups were largely explained by the higher fat deposition in IB pigs, such that a higher level of marbling was positively associated with all the sensory attributes evaluated. Ageing meat for up to 9 d postmortem benefited pork quality, improving meat tenderness, and color, particularly in crossbred pigs and those finished intensively.

Plant roots provide structural support and absorb nutrients and water; therefore, their proper development and function are critical for plant survival. Extensive studies on the early stage of ontogenesis of the primary root have revealed that the root apical meristem (RAM) undergoes dynamic structural and organizational changes during early germination. Quiescent center (QC) cells, a group of slowly dividing cells at the center of the stem-cell niche, are vital for proper function and maintenance of the RAM. However, temporal aspects of molecular and cellular changes in QC cells and their regulatory mechanisms have not been well studied. In the present study, we investigated temporal changes in QC cell size, expression of QC cell-specific markers (WOX5 and QC25), and genotoxic tolerance and division rate of QC cells in the Arabidopsis primary root. Our data revealed the decreased size of QC cells and the decreased expression of the QC cell-specific markers with root age. We also found that QC cell division frequency increased with root age. Furthermore, our study provides evidence supporting the link between the transition of QC cells from a mitotically quiescent state to the frequently dividing state and the decrease in tolerance to genotoxic stress.

Visualization plays a crucial role in understanding dynamic social networks at many different levels (i.e., group, subgroup, and individual). Node-link-based visualization techniques are currently widely used for these tasks and have been demonstrated to be effective, but it was found that they also have limitations in representing temporal changes, particularly at the individual and subgroup levels. To overcome these limitations, this article presents a new network visualization technique, called “TimeMatrix,” based on a matrix representation. Interaction techniques, such as overlay controls, a temporal range slider, semantic zooming, and integrated network statistical measures, support analysts in studying temporal social networks. To validate the design, the article presents a user study involving three social scientists analyzing inter-organizational collaboration data. The study demonstrates how TimeMatrix may help analysts gain insights about the temporal aspects of network data that can be subsequently tested with network analytic methods.

From a temporal perspective, this study explores determinants and temporal changes in CEO staffing strategies in emerging markets, especially in transitional economies. Scholars previously discussed determinants for CEO staffing strategies in foreign subsidiary development that are likely to impact the foreign subsidiary’s performance. Yet, institutional perspectives have largely dominated the debates, while temporal framing is lacking. To do so, we organized a comparative case study of subsidiaries of Japanese automotive firms in Russia applying process research lenses. Consequently, time effects concerning the progress of foreign subsidiary development impacted CEO staffing strategies by evolving determinants. The determinants varied in the middle and recent stages such as HRM cost advantages or expatriation advantages, while they both prioritized speed advantages in the early stage. Thus, this study contributes to advancing scholarly discussions by injecting temporal aspects, whereby we present a novel process model and constructs.

The spatial and temporal aspects of the habitat suitability of the European Souslik (Spermophilus citellus L.) in an area in Sredna Gora Mountain (Bulgaria) was investigated. Data from Landsat satellite imagery were used for modelling changes in the habitat suitability of the species from 1985 till 2018. Linear Regression Analysis showed that spectral bands represent not only the spatial heterogeneity of the landcover, but also the temporal changes of two climatic parameters – monthly temperature and rainfall amount. The obtained results show that the habitat suitability of the European Souslik increased during the studied period. The methodology used here based on statistical modelingis applicable to long-term monitoring and evaluation of the role of land cover change as a result of the human activity and the climate change on the habitat suitability of the European Souslik.

Aim: The purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence of Salmonella in raw beef produced from selected commercial abbatoirs in Namibia. Methodology: A total of 9508 of beef samples from three different types of samples; meat cuts, carcass swabs and meat fluid were collected from the three local abattoirs over a period of two years starting from January 2008 to December 2009. Pre - enrichment for isolati on of Salmonella was done in Buffered peptone water followed by enrichment in the Rappaport - Vassiliadis and selenite cystine broth. The isolation of Salmonella was done on Xylose Lysine Desoxycholate and Brilliant Green agar followed by biochemical confirm ation and serotyping according to Kauffman White scheme. Results: The overall prevalence of Salmonella was 0.85 % for beef samples derived from meat cuts, meat fluid and carcass swabs. The prevalence of Salmonella in carcass swabs (2.67 %) was significantly different ( P = 0.0 5) from that of meat cuts (0.50 % ) and meat fluid (0.43 %). No significant difference ( P = 0.05) on the prevalence of Salmonella existed between the meat cuts and meat fluid. A total of 34 different types of Salmonella serovars were identified with S. Chester being the most frequently isolated serovars (n = 12), followed by S. Reading and S . Bredeney (n = 6) and S. Typhimurium (n = 5). Conclusions: The prevalence of Salmonella in raw beef found in this survey was lower than those observed in Sub Sahara Africa with S. Chester being the most prevalent serovar. Original Research Article

Optimisation of tenderisation, ageing and tenderness

Sensory and functional meat quality characteristics of pork derived from three halothane genotypes

The Covid-19 pandemic has led everyone to use technology in various interests. The role of technology is very high to help the community, ranging from information sharing, job monitoring, even as a medium of introduction and promotion of a product and service. One of the very high use of technology as digital promotional media is educational institutions. Mondial School has been using only a few promotional media, namely print media such as brochures, banners, and billboards. These media can actually be shared online, but only in the form of still images and only a little information can be conveyed. Therefore, new innovations are needed to promote this school through a full profile. The new innovation in question is a motion graphics product in video format. Motion graphics method using Villamil-Molina approach was then used to analyze the manufacturing process based on Spatial, Temporal, Live Action and Typographic aspects. As for knowing the feasibility of e-promotion, further analysis will be carried out on aspects of motion graphics and respondent perception. This study on respondent perception uses measurement method based on EPIC Model.